To get tickets for the Stadio Olimpico in Rome is usually not a problem, not for the derby between Roma and Lazio either. But also on many other spots in the beautiful capital of Italy you'll find a deep love for football.
The Stadio Olimpico is steeped with history, but the stadium is not particularly popular. It's gigantic, but the running track and the not steep stands make the stadium a bit impersonal and chilly as well. Futhermore, the stadium is almost never sold-out either, only for the derby the stadium gets really full.
Still, the famous Roman city is worth a visit. The curvas of both Roma and Lazio are loud and impressive, which gives the stadium a better atmosphere than you'd probably imagine. Also, the stadium is located in the giant olympic park of Rome, in the north of the city.
Take the time to walk through the sculpture gardens, or along the Stadio dei Marmi, a monumental athletics stadium. The sport history is up for the grabs here.
The surroundings of the Stadio Olimpico are not particularly atmospheric. The olympic park is so big that the closest bars are hundreds of meters away. Still you can have good fun at the banks of the Tiber, which flows east of the stadium. There's a couple of bars where fans calmly have a drink before matches. Molo Zero is our favorite, a trendy cocktailbar. Also nice is Giardini Dell'Eden, but both bars are not typical football bars.
The most fun area of Rome has an own football team as well. Trastevere Calcio De leukste en populairste wijk van Rome heeft ook een eigen voetbalclub. Trastevere Calcio is a product of several amateur teams, one of them the small club where Francesco Totti made his first steps between the lines (AS Santa Maria in Trastevere). His member card is proudly shown in the offices of Stadio Vittorio Bachelet, a charming complex at the western edge of Trastevere. Worth a visit, and ideal to combine with the many terraces and restaurants nearby.
Unlike cities as London or Buenos Aires, Rome doesn't have tens of stadiums, but the football shops make up a lot for that. Both Lazio and AS Roma have several club shops and fan stores, spread through the whole city. Near the Vatican, at the Via Ottaviano, is a nice one for who likes Roma the most. The most beautiful Lazio store is in the centre at Piazza di San Silvestro.
At both Roman clubs it's easy to get your tickets, the Stadio Olimpico is almost never sold-out. Even at the massive Derby della Capitale between the arch rivals the tickets go in general sale, as always via the club who officially plays at home.
Do you visit an evening fixture in the Stadio Olimpico? Make sure you arrange your transport for after the game in advance, for example a pre-ordered taxi. You're hotel might be able to help you with that. The public transport in this part of the town isn't really food, especially late on the evening.
Images: Shutterstock, BSR Agency
